286 NEW SOUTH WALES. 



viz., on the 22d of January, 1785, the 17th January, 1801, the 7th 

 May, 1804, the 24th September, 1806, the 28th November, 1823, 

 and the 2d August, 1837. That of 28th November, 1823, was also 

 felt at Laurie's-town, Van Diemen's Land. 



As far as could be learnt, these earthquakes did no material 

 damage. It may, however, be inferred from the nature of the 

 country, that violent commotions have' taken place in former times. 

 Major Mitchell has stated, and the fact was confirmed by the 

 personal examination of our geologist, Mr. Dana, that an alteration 

 in the relative level of the sea is abundantly evident on the cliffs of 

 the coast. 



The Burning Mountain of Win^en is something analogous to a 

 crater, which it was not in the power of any of our parties to reach. 

 According to Major Mitchell, it appears to be the same kind of 

 phenomenon as that described by Professor Buckland and Mr. De 

 la Beche, caused by the action of rain-water on iron pyrites, which 

 sets fire to the bituminous shale. The combustion of Wingea ex- 

 tends over an area of about two miles in extent, and occurs near the 

 summit of a group of hills, forming part of a low chain which divides 

 the valley of Kingdom Ponds from that of Page's river. Blue smoke 

 ascends from rents and cracks ; the breadth of the widest of which 

 measures about three feet. A red heat appears at the depth of about 

 four fathoms, and no marks of any extensive change appear on the 

 surface near these burning fissures, although the growth of large 

 trees in old cracks on the opposite slope where ignition had ceased, 

 shows that this fire had continued for a very considerable time. 

 The height of this crater is about fifteen hundred feet above the level 

 of the sea. 



The trade of Australia is greatly on the increase. Nearly all of it 

 centres in Sydney ; and this will account for the rapid rise of that 

 city, which not only has the finest port, but the most central position 

 as respects the east coast. By a reference to the official documents in 

 the Appendix, from XIV. to XX., the rapid increase of the commerce 

 of Sydney will be seen ; but they give only an imperfect idea of the 

 life and animation that this port exhibits, or of the bustle attendant on 

 the receiving of produce and forwarding of supplies to the interior, 

 on the arrival of emigrants. The warehouses, and all works con- 

 nected with this trade, are of a durable description. The number of 

 vessels that entered Port Jackson in 1826, was sixty-two, and their 



